Single convolution rubber sealing element



22, 1949. F. E. PAYNE 2,464,938

SINGLE CONVOLUTION RUBBER SEALING ELEMENT FiledApril 25, 194'"! [NI $70K WW Patented Mar. 22, 1949 SINGLE CONVOLUTION RUBBER SEALING ELEMENT Frank E. Payne, Glencoe, Ill.

Application April 25, 1947, Serial No. 743,824

This invention relates to fluid sealing devices for rotary pumps or the like and particularly to a tubular flexible bellows sealing element which is an essential part of such sealing devices.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a flexible bellows for a fluid sealing device wherein the fold of the bellows flexes in an extremely uniform and controllable manner.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a flexible bellows for a fluid sealing device or the like wherein the bellows comprises a tube having a single fold, the fold being comprised of a diaphragm connected to a conical section of the tube to form an asymmetrical V. As the in which the bellows of this invention is incorporated, the seal being shown installed in a water p p;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the seal looking to the left from line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a section through a bellows of this invention showing the bellows as it is molded or otherwise formed initially.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, there is shown a mechanical seal for a water pump or the like, the seal comprising a rigid sealing washer l made of non-friction material such as a thermosetting resin having interspersed therein powdered metal such as antimony, tin and lead together with asbestos fiber and graphite. The washer Ill is positioned within a cup-shaped recess ll formed in the hub l2 of a vaned impeller l3, said impeller having a central opening M by which it is press-fitted upon a shaft l5 so as to be driven thereby. The cylindrical wall l6 of the recess has a plurality of slots ll into which extend ears I8 formed on the outer periphery of washer l0. Thus washer I0 is constrained to rotate with impeller l3.

The fluid to be sealed, in this case water, is located exteriorly of impeller l3 and in a chamber defined in part by a housing l9, only a fragmentary part of which is shown. Housing I9 has an opening through which shaft l5 passes freely, and a radially disposed surface 2| which is finished either by a very fine lathe cut or by grinding so as to be flat and smooth. A similarly 4 Claims. ((ll. 286-11) 2 finished surface 22 on washer l0 contacts surface 2| to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween.

Washer I0 is sealed with respect to impeller l3 by a tubular flexible deformable sealing element 23 preferably made of rubber, natural or synthetic, or a combination of the two. Sealing element 23 is comprised of spaced flanges 24 and 25 abutting on the back of I0 and the radial surface 26 of recess ll, respectivelyyand substantially cylindrical sections 21 and 28 connected by a fold. The fold is of special, non-symmetrical shape as shown in Fig. 3. It is comprised of a radial section 29 which is joined to a section having a double taper 30' and 3|. The difficulty with a symmetrical fold is that the apex moves radially inwardly and may at times touch the shaft. If the symmetrical fold is compressed beyond the point where the two halves touch, the apex then assumes an unpredictable non-circular irregular shape. This unpredictable action detracts from the smooth compressibility of the bellows and should it be used in a seal in which the shaft rotates relative to the bellows, the apex may touch the rotating shaft at one or more places and quickly wear through.

The cylindrical sections 21, 28 are thicker than the fold so as to render the cylindrical sections substantially rigid and hence limit the flexing action to the fold.

In the present design, the radial part 29 acts two cylindrical sections touch and impose irregular stresses on the fold.

Since the tapered portion of the fold is quite long it is possible that it would not bend radially inwardly when under compression. To insure that .the tapered portion flexes properly, it is given a double taper or starting bend in the direction that it is desired to go. A portion of the first tapered section 30 is utilized to form the apex as the fold is compressed, the material from section 30 being bent asthe portion previously forming the apex is straightened and added to the radial portion 29.

The sealing element is shown in its compressed, normal working condition in Fig. 1. The apex of the fold is clearly shown moved within the cylindrical part 28. A spring 32 is compressed between flanges 24 and. 25 and serves to hold the flanges in sealing engagement with the washer and the Wall 26 of recess ll. When the apex is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the inside diameter of the apex is reduced, but the apex is still of a perfectly circular form in a rad ial plane. 2

shows in dotted line 31 the diameter and shape of the apex when the sealing element is relaxed as in Fig. 3 and in solid line 34 the diameter and shape of the apex when the bellows is compressed as in Fig. 1. In bothconditions, the apex is perfectly round.

It is understood that the fold in the sealing element 23 may be inverted from the position shown and changes may likewise be made in the size and angularity of the fold, all without departing from the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A flexible sealing device comprising a tube having a fold intermediate the ends thereof, said fold being comprised of a substantially radially disposed section connected to a tapered section and a second tapered section of a different taper from the first connected to the said first tapered section.

2. A flexible sealing device comprising a tube adapted to fold intermediate the ends thereof, said device being comprised of a cylindrical section, a substantially radially disposed section connected to the cylindrical section, a tapered section spaced from the radially disposed section, and a section intermediate the tapered section and the radially disposed section and adapted to be telescoped into the cylindrical section and thereby effect a folding of the tube. I

3. A flexible sealing device comprising a tube adapted to fold intermediate the ends thereof,

said device comprising a cylindrical section located near one end of the tube. a substantially radially inwardly disposed section connected to the cylindrical section, an outwardly tapered section spaced-from the radially inwardly disposed section, and a section connecting the tapered section to the radially disposed section, said lastmentioned section being telescoped into the cylindrical section as the device is folded.

4. A flexible sealing device comprising a tube having radially disposed flanges at the ends thereof, cylindrical portions extending from the flanges, and a fold connecting the cylindrical portions, said fold being comprised of a radially disposed section, a tapered section spaced from the radially disposed section, and a section intermediate the tapered section and the radially disposed section and adapted to be telescoped into the cylindrical section and thereby effect a folding of the tube.

FRANK E. PAYNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Roshong Dec. 16, 1947 

